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For me, it’s the end of an era. After nineteen years, it turns out my most recent In The Kitchen column was my last piece for the Packet. Their freelance budget has been cut once again, and my time with them is over. I think my editor felt worse about this than I do. It … Continue reading →

If you are up on the local (or even national) news at all, you’ll know why I decided it was time to pay my first visit to The Peasant Grill in Hopewell. Call it a little show of foodie solidarity. I’d never been before, although I’d always heard good things, so now was the time to rectify that … Continue reading →

I am writing today about something I think is vitally important to our community. It has nothing to do with food. Much as that topic is near and dear to my heart, even more so is the importance of a vibrant free press to our democratic society. It’s hard times in the print newspaper business. … Continue reading →

In a 2004 article about the summer Fancy Food Show, I referred to Indian food as “a culinary powerhouse waiting in the wings for its turn as a trendsetter.” Ten years have passed and I’d say its turn has come. Indian food has pretty much become ubiquitous and, aside from the numerous Indian restaurants around, some element of … Continue reading →

Yay for New Jersey Peaches! Here’s some information from Terhune Orchards about their peachy tastings this weekend: “Summer Harvest” Farm-to-Fork tasting featuring local chefs using Terhune Orchards produce and locally sourced ingredients to prepare recipes for visitors to sample. Enjoy the bounty of the summer! August 2 & 3, 12pm -4pm or while supplies last … Continue reading →

Visions of sugar plums may run through some people’s heads at night, but for others of us, it’s more likely to be truffles, or pork belly, or who knows what gourmet treat. Of course, I can’t remember ever having a sugar plum, so maybe this is not surprising. Now that could be a good culinary project … Continue reading →

Today I raise a question that has preoccupied me since a dinner out with friends last summer. What should you do when you hate, hate, hate your entrée? (Or whatever dish, of course.) At this dinner, one friend found her poussin (baby chicken) tough and bland. She requested and got a sharp knife, which cut … Continue reading →

I have come late to YouTube, and even later to this great BBC documentary series from 2007-2009. Except for the very occasional quick short someone tipped me off to, I’ve never gotten the YouTube bug until now. It came about through a tip from a co-worker a few weeks ago, and now I’ve had to … Continue reading →

There’s a lot of bad science out there. Even I, a non-scientist, can tell. We are constantly bombarded with misinformation, and a lot of it has to do with food and health. We have become a nation bizarrely obsessed with health and medicine. It seems that nearly every article in the newspaper is related to health and … Continue reading →

I recently wrote an article for the Princeton Packet about my ongoing (but almost complete!) home reorganization project. I am reproducing it here (in slightly longer form and with more photos), for anyone who didn’t see it and might be thinking of a similar project for themselves. While it was a little embarasssing to out myself … Continue reading →